Drug Awareness Program
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM In 1988 Congress passed the Drug Free Workplace Act. This law requires employers who contract with, or receive funds from federal agencies to certify that they will meet certain requirements for providing a “Drug-free workplace”. It is the intent of the Colorado State University – Pueblo to fully comply will all provisions of the Act, including a drug awareness program to ensure that employees and students are aware of the dangers of drug abuse. A copy of the law is available in the Human Resources Office as well as on the Human Resources Website at www.colostate-Pueblo.edu/hr/. HEALTH RISKS AND WORKPLACE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH ILLICIT DRUG USE AND ALCOHOL ABUSE This is a brief summary of some of the principal health risks and workplace hazards associated with the use of illicit drugs and alcohol. It is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. For more detailed information concerning the dangers of drugs and alcohol, you should consult your doctor or a drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselor. ALCOHOL HEALTH RISKS -- Alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) is a drug that, like the sedatives, depresses the central nervous system. Even small doses significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely. Drinking and driving is the leading cause of fatal automobile accidents. Alcohol use also contributes to many falls, drownings, other accidents and aggressive acts including spouse and child abuse. Moderate to high doses severely impair muscular coordination, memory and judgment. Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death. Mixing alcohol with sedatives or other central nervous system depressants is extremely dangerous and often fatal. Repeated use of alcohol can lead to addiction. Withdrawal symptoms may be life threatening. Long-term consumption of large quantities of alcohol can also cause permanent and sometimes fatal damage to such vital organs as the heart, liver, pancreas and brain. Alcohol use during pregnancy can lead to irreversible physical abnormalities and mental retardation (fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS) in children. WORKPLACE HAZARDS -- The dangers of using alcohol in the workplace include impaired coordination, concentration and judgment resulting in dangerous or problem behavior; inability to learn and remember information; excessive absenteeism and tardiness; increased workload and stress on others; and an inability to deal realistically with workplace problems. MARIJUANA AND ITS DERIVATIVES HEALTH RISKS -- Marijuana and its derivatives (dope, grass, weed, pot, mary jane, reefer, smoke, hash, THC, etc.) affect the central nervous system. Immediate effects include altered perceptions and time sense, increased heart rate, lower body temperature, a dry mouth and throat, bloodshot eyes and increased appetite. Coordination, short-term memory, concentration and retention of knowledge are impaired. Users often experience acute anxiety reactions. Long-term use can lead to psychological dependence, paranoia and psychosis, lung damage including cancer, and "burnout" (impaired motivation, cognition, concentration and attention). WORKPLACE HAZARDS -- The dangers of using marijuana in the workplace include impaired perceptions of time, space and distance and slowed physical reflexes which make operating machinery or driving hazardous and interference with tasks requiring learning, memory and concentration. INHALANTS HEALTH RISKS -- Inhalants (aerosol sprays, solvents, nitrous oxide, laughing gas, amyl and butyl nitrite, poppers, snappers, rush, bullet and climax, etc.) are substances which release toxic or mind-altering vapors. Immediate effects include nausea, sneezing, coughing, nosebleed, fatigue, lack of coordination and lack of appetite. Aerosol sprays and solvents decrease heart and respiratory rates and impair judgment. Amyl and butyl nitrite cause rapid pulse, headaches and involuntary excretion. Long-term use or use of large amounts of inhalants over a short time can result in disorientation, violent behavior, hepatitis, organ and nervous system damage, coma and death. Use during pregnancy endangers the fetus. WORKPLACE HAZARDS -- The dangers of using inhalants in the workplace include impaired judgment, coordination and decision-making that adversely affect job safety and job performance. COCAINE HEALTH RISKS -- Cocaine (coke, blow, snow, flake, white, lady, nose candy, crack, rock, base) stimulates the central nervous system, elevates blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature and depresses appetite. Inhaling cocaine can cause a stuffy or runny nose; chronic use ulcerates nasal mucus membranes. AIDS and hepatitis may result from sharing needles. Tolerance develops rapidly and physical and psychological dependency frequently results. Crack is extremely addictive. Use of cocaine and crack may cause fatal heart attacks and respiratory failure, lung damage, seizures, paranoia, hallucinations, severe depression and psychoses. Use during pregnancy endangers the fetus. WORKPLACE HAZARDS -- The dangers of using cocaine and crack in the workplace include impaired judgment and decision-making ability, mood swings, emotional problems, and undependability -- all of which adversely affect job safety and job performance. Cocaine and crack use also contribute to an increased risk of workplace crime. STIMULANTS HEALTH RISKS -- Stimulants (amphetamines, methamphetamines, speed, uppers, black beauties, hearts, benzedrine, methedrine, crystal meth, crank, etc.) arouse the central nervous system, elevate blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates, decrease appetite and increase alertness. Other immediate and short-term effects include sweating, headache, blurred vision, insomnia, restlessness, anxiety and depression. High doses can cause rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremors, coordination loss, collapse, stroke, and heart failure. AIDS and hepatitis may result from sharing needles. Long-term use can lead to amphetamine psychosis including hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. WORKPLACE HAZARDS -- The dangers of using stimulants in the workplace include impaired vision, judgment, coordination and reflexes, adversely affecting job safety and job performance. Users may become careless because they overestimate their capabilities or because of fatigue resulting from insomnia or hyperactivity. Anxiety, restlessness and irritability can interfere with relationships among employees and hinder job performance. DEPRESSANTS HEALTH RISKS -- Depressants (barbs, downers, reds, yellows, ludes, 714s, valium, etc.) are drugs including barbiturates, tranquilizers and sedative-hypnotics which depress the central nervous system, calm anxiety, relax muscles, reduce heart rate, slow breathing and lower blood pressure. Larger doses may cause slurred speech, staggering gait, lack of coordination, drowsiness, confusion and altered perceptions. Using depressants with alcohol is very dangerous because each reinforces the other's depressant effect on the nervous system. Regular use of depressants leads to tolerance, larger doses and physical and psychological dependence. Overdoses may be fatal. Withdrawal symptoms range from restlessness, insomnia and anxiety to convulsions and death. Children born to mothers who abuse depressants during pregnancy may become physically dependent on the drug and undergo withdrawal symptoms shortly after birth. They may also suffer from birth defects and behavioral problems. WORKPLACE HAZARDS The dangers of using depressants in the workplace include impaired coordination, reflexes, concentration and judgment leading to accidents and poor performance of tasks requiring dexterity, alertness or mental acuity. HALLUCINOGENS HEALTH RISKS -- Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, PCP, angel dust, mescaline, peyote, psilocybin, mushrooms, etc.) affect perception, sensations, thinking, self-awareness and emotions. Physical effects include elevated heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, sweating, depressed appetite, nausea, insomnia and tremors. Psychological effects include altered perceptions, hallucinations, severe panic reactions, loss of control, psychotic episodes and "flashbacks." PCP use blocks pain receptors and may result in violence and self-inflicted injuries as well as incoherent speech and impaired coordination. Chronic PCP use leads to persistent memory problems, speech difficulties, mood disorders, paranoia, violent behavior and hallucinations. Because hallucinogens distort perceptions and judgment, they increase the likelihood of accidents and suicide attempts. WORKPLACE HAZARDS -- The dangers of using hallucinogens in the workplace include accidents caused by distorted perceptions and judgment, violence toward other employees and an inability to perform tasks requiring alertness, mental acuity and sound judgment. NARCOTICS HEALTH RISKS -- Narcotics (heroin, smack, horse, skag, junk, brown sugar, black tar, demerol, dilaudid, morphine, opium, paregoric, codeine, fentanyl percodan, talwin, etc.) initially produce a feeling of euphoria that often is followed by drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, watery eyes, and itching. Narcotics have a high potential for abuse because tolerance develops quickly and addiction is likely. Withdrawal symptoms are often debilitating. Overdoses produce shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions, coma and death. Long-term health risks include organ damage. AIDS and hepatitis may result from sharing needles. Addiction in pregnant women can lead to premature, stillborn, or addicted infants who experience severe withdrawal